US 12,274,616 B2
Systems of heart valve delivery
Teodoro S. Jimenez, Aliso Viejo, CA (US); Walter Lee, Irvine, CA (US); Mark M. Dehdashtian, Irvine, CA (US); and Kristopher J. Yee, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/958,105.
Application 17/958,105 is a continuation of application No. 16/703,695, filed on Dec. 4, 2019, granted, now 11,458,014.
Application 16/703,695 is a continuation of application No. 15/662,021, filed on Jul. 27, 2017, granted, now 10,500,044, issued on Dec. 10, 2019.
Application 15/662,021 is a continuation of application No. 14/610,982, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 9,717,594, issued on Aug. 1, 2017.
Application 14/610,982 is a continuation of application No. 13/922,129, filed on Jun. 19, 2013, granted, now 8,945,208, issued on Feb. 3, 2015.
Application 13/922,129 is a continuation of application No. 12/835,546, filed on Jul. 13, 2010, granted, now 8,475,522, issued on Jul. 2, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/225,510, filed on Jul. 14, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0025110 A1, Jan. 26, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/24 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/2427 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2418 (2013.01); A61F 2/2433 (2013.01); A61M 25/0136 (2013.01); A61M 25/0147 (2013.01); A61F 2/2412 (2013.01); A61F 2/243 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0016 (2013.01); A61F 2220/005 (2013.01); A61M 25/0133 (2013.01); A61M 25/0138 (2013.01); A61M 25/0141 (2013.01); A61M 25/0144 (2013.01); A61M 2025/015 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for delivery of a prosthetic heart valve to a beating heart, comprising:
a delivery catheter having a distal balloon of sufficient diameter to expand a heart valve crimped thereon, wherein the delivery catheter has a proximal control handle with a plurality of concentric tubes extending distally from within the control handle and at least one actuator on the exterior of the control handle for moving one of the tubes axially;
an introducer that receives the delivery catheter therethrough and has an elongated tubular sheath extending distally from a proximal housing containing at least one introducer valve for fluidly sealing around devices passed therethrough, the introducer having a length sufficient to extend from outside a patient through an intercostal incision and into the left ventricle of the patient; and
a tubular loader defining a throughbore that receives a distal portion of the delivery catheter, and includes structure for engaging mating structure on the proximal housing of the introducer and a distal nose that extends through and opens the at least one introducer valve and facilitates passage therethrough of the delivery catheter, the loader having a proximal housing with a loader seal for fluidly sealing around the delivery catheter, and a single-handed vent for aspirating air from within the loader housing.